As was written in the Editor's road test of the 10th generation model, the new Lancer Evolution (ostensibly the Evo X) is "...one of the most famous Japanese performance cars of the last two decades," and is "...back in its most potent form yet."

Though
it does sport police livery, repeat speeders, car thieves and career
criminals of all types need not worry too much as the police-issue Evo
is a 'promotional' vehicle that will only be used during public events
such as open days, charity events, educational sessions, parades and
regular street patrols.

But don't be surprised to see this
vehicle used as a deterrent on Victorian streets. It's mere presence
would be enough to convince wayward drivers to adhere to the road
rules, whether keeping left on the highway or just remembering to use
indicators when turning or changing lanes.

"The Lancer Evolution
has an enviable reputation for stand-out styling and fantastic
performance in its standard guise, but the addition of the Police
paintwork makes it a real head-turner and the perfect choice for a
Victoria Police promotional vehicle," said Robert McEniry, the
president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Australia.

"Everyone
at Mitsubishi is proud to see this Lancer Evolution with its striking
police decals and we're sure it will spark a positive reaction from the
public at the many events requiring police presence in the coming
months," said McEniry.

Like all Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
models in Australia, the police car is powered by an intercooled and
turbocharged 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder engine that routes power
through an advanced all-wheel drive system for maximum traction.

Police
pursuit cars are sometimes modified for improved acceleration and
deceleration, such as the XR8 Falcons and SS Commodores, but the Evo
appears to be stock standard, with vital statistics as follows:

Power: 217kW @ 6500rpmTorque: 366Nm @ 3500rpm

Who
knows what's next for Australian traffic police? The Nissan GT-R will
arrive in April 2009, which would be one of the fastest pursuit cars
available.